Goal: Play a larger role in the war in Afghanistan by helping to train the Afghani army and police.

When the United States originally entered Afghanistan, its primary goal was to dismantle the al-Qaeda terrorist organization and eliminate its Afghan base. But now America’s place in the war is set to come to an end in 2014, and in order for this to occur successfully, the United States needs help in preparing the Afghan state. To help prepare the local army to take a lead combat role in the United States’ absence, we ask that India become more involved in this war as a means of helping to end it.

The War in Afghanistan has been going on since after the September 11th terror attacks in 2001. And after more than a decade of seeking to extinguish the Taliban’s presence, the United States hopes to allow the Afghans to fight their own war. But the Afghan army needs preparation. U.S. training efforts have been drastically slowed by the corruption, widespread illiteracy, vanishing supplies, and lack of discipline. Afghan forces have been found cowering in ditches, too afraid to shoot their weapons.

Desertion is also a rampant issue. Between September 2008 and September 2009, one in four Afghan combat soldiers quit the army. The Afghan National Police are meant to provide the support the army needs to thrive. But the police force suffers from corruption and illiteracy; in fact, 17 percent of the officers have been found to be taking illegal substances.

The only way for the United States to win this war by any means, to leave it amicably, is to leave the Afghan nation capable of running itself. But even after a decade of our presence in the nation, there is still much work to be done. We can’t do it alone. Over the last few years, India has become a greater and greater partner to America in the realm of defense, with increases in arm sales at close to $8.5 billion over the course of this war.

We ask India’s Minister of Defense Shri A.K. Antony to continue down the path of a strong partnership between the United States and India, by agreeing to play a larger role in the war in Afghanistan.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Minister of Defense Shri A.K. Antony,

As the United States winds down its role in the war in Afghanistan, we ask that India match our efforts to prepare the Afghan people to sustain and fight for themselves. Over the past decade, the United States has fought to eliminate terrorist organizations in Afghanistan, which is in the world’s best interest. And over that same decade, India has become a stronger and stronger ally of America in the realm of defense. We ask that India continue down this path by helping to train Afghan troops and police officers.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

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